System and method for managing battery slump during wireless communications using signal triggered voltage monitoring

• US 8,032,189 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Guthrie, Martin, Book, Christopher, Madter, Richard, Veselic, Dusan, Nickerson, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Cordero; Marivelisse Santiago
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUA, QUAN M
• Application Number:
  US11/549,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20080014997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,814 Days
• Field of Search: 455/127.5, 455/572, 455/574, 455/456.1, 455/522, 455/127.1, 455/114.3, 455/192.1, 455/253.2, 455/13.4, 324/132, 324/134, 324/429, 320/433, 320/434
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/305 in the event of power-supply fluctuations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569

Abstract

A system and method for managing battery slump in a battery-powered communications device including: an input configured for receiving battery voltage level information; an output configured for sending a signal for terminating a transmission; and a controller connected to the input and the output and configured to receive the battery voltage level information from the input; monitor the battery voltage level information; and send a signal via the output to terminate a transmission if the battery voltage level information crosses a predetermined threshold during the transmission. In particular, the system and method may further include an input connected to the controller and configured for receiving a signal indicating when a transmission is beginning or occurring and the controller is further configured to receive and monitor the battery voltage level information only when the transmission is occurring.

Claims

1. A system for managing battery slump in a battery-powered communication device comprising an amplifier for amplifying wireless communication signals being transmitted by the communication device, the system comprising:

an input signal terminal for receiving battery voltage level information for a battery of the communication device;

an output signal terminal for sending a signal for terminating a given transmission of a wireless communication signal being transmitted by the communication device, wherein the battery slump is caused by current drain on the battery during the given transmission;

a controller connected to the input signal terminal and the output signal terminal, wherein the controller;

calculates a transmit power level required for the given transmission, and a threshold voltage based upon the calculated transmit power level, the threshold voltage corresponding to a minimum power supply voltage of the amplifier required for the given transmission;

receives the battery voltage level information from the input signal terminal;

monitors the battery voltage level information, during the given transmission of the wireless communication signal; and

sends a signal via the output signal terminal to terminate the given transmission of the wireless communication signal if the battery voltage level information crosses the calculated threshold voltage during the given transmission of the wireless communication signal; and

a trigger input terminal connected to the controller for receiving a signal indicating when the given transmission of the wireless communication signal is beginning;

wherein the controller receives the battery voltage level information when the given transmission of the wireless communication signal is occurring, and delays monitoring of the battery voltage level information for a predetermined time after receiving the signal indicating when the given transmission of the wireless communication signal is beginning.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the signal indicating when the given transmission of the wireless communication signal is beginning comprises an amplifier enable signal.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller sends the signal to terminate the given transmission of the wireless communication signal without powering down the communication device.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller receives battery voltage level information by receiving periodic voltage readings and monitors the battery voltage level information by averaging the periodic voltage readings.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller provides notification of the termination of the given transmission and reason for the termination.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the termination of the given transmission of the wireless communication signal is performed in a manner that is based on a type of the given transmission.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time that the monitoring of the battery voltage level information is delayed corresponds to a period following the beginning of the given transmission in which the battery slump is unlikely to occur.

8. A method for managing battery slump in a battery-powered communication device comprising an amplifier for amplifying wireless communication signals being transmitted by the communication device, the method comprising:

monitoring battery voltage level for a battery of the communication device, comprising receiving a signal indicating a start of a given transmission of the wireless communication signal;

calculating a transmit power level for the given transmission of a wireless communication signal being transmitted by the communication device, wherein the battery slump is caused by current drain on the battery during the given transmission;

calculating a threshold voltage based on the calculated transmit power level, the threshold voltage corresponding to a minimum power supply voltage of the amplifier required for the given transmission;

comparing the battery voltage level with the calculated threshold voltage, during the given transmission of the wireless communication signal; and

terminating the given transmission of the wireless communication signal if the monitored battery voltage level crosses the threshold voltage during the given transmission of the wireless communication signal;

wherein the monitoring of battery voltage level is performed during the given transmission of the wireless communication signal, and is delayed for a predetermined time after the receiving a signal indicating a start of a given transmission of the wireless communication signal.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the comparing is performed only during the given transmission of the wireless communication signal.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the terminating of the given transmission occurs without powering down the communication device.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the monitoring of battery voltage level comprises:

receiving periodic voltage readings; and

averaging the periodic voltage readings to produce the battery voltage level.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the signal indicating a start of a given transmission of the wireless communication signal comprises an amplifier enable signal.

13. A method according to claim 8, further comprising providing notification of the given termination and reason for the termination.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein said terminating is performed in a manner that is based on a type of the given transmission.

15. A method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined time that the monitoring of the battery voltage level is delayed corresponds to a period following the start of the given transmission in which the battery slump is unlikely to occur.